What You Need to Know: The 6-day Ndutu calving safari costs from US$3,395 per person for two travelers at mid-range camps (US$2,545 budget, US$5,055 luxury). It runs from January to March in 2027 and 2028, when the wildebeest give birth around Lake Ndutu, with calving at its peak in February. The price includes pickup in Arusha, five nights at lodges and camps with meals, three of them at Ndutu, all park fees, the Ngorongoro crater fee and a private Land Cruiser with your own guide.
Who Should Book the 6-Day Ndutu Calving Safari?
Book it if you can travel between January and March and want to spend real time with the migration, not just pass through. Three nights at Ndutu mean three full days among the herds, when thousands of calves are born each day and predators hunt in the open grass. Tarangire, the crater and Lake Manyara round out the trip, so you see the circuit's other highlights too. It is a road safari at mid-range level; for a shorter or more comfortable version, see the options below.
| This safari suits you if… | Consider another trip if… |
|---|---|
| You can travel from January to March | You are traveling from July to October: the 7-day Mara River crossing safari |
| You want three full days with the calving herds | You have only five days: the 5-day calving season safari |
| Mid-range camps suit you | You'd like luxury camps: the 6-day luxury Ndutu calving safari |
What Happens During the Calving Season at Ndutu?
After the short rains in November and December, the herds move onto the volcanic short-grass plains between the southern Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where the grass is rich in minerals. Hundreds of thousands of calves are born in a few weeks, most of them in February. The calves can run within minutes of birth, but the first days are dangerous: lions, cheetahs, hyenas and jackals hunt in plain sight, which makes Ndutu one of the best places in Africa to watch predators.
| Month | What to expect at Ndutu |
|---|---|
| January | The herds settle on the plains; the first calves; green grass and fewer vehicles than in February |
| February | The peak of calving, with the most newborns and the most predator activity |
| March | Calves growing fast; the herds start to drift west and north as the long rains approach |
The herds' movements follow the rain, so your guide checks each morning where they are. More in the Great Migration by month.
6-Day Ndutu Calving Safari Itinerary
You drive west from Arusha, spend three nights in the calving grounds and come back through the crater. Day by day:
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Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire, then Karatu
We pick you up from your Arusha hotel at about 8 am and drive about two and a half hours to Tarangire for an afternoon among its elephants and baobabs, then up to Karatu in the Ngorongoro highlands for the night.
Elephants and baobabsTarangire, KaratuLunch box, dinner -
Day 2: Over the highlands to Ndutu
Up through the forest on the crater rim, with a stop at the viewpoint, then down onto the plains to Ndutu. By the afternoon you are among the herds, with a game drive to your camp.
First herdsNgorongoro highlands, NdutuBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 3: A full day with the calving herds
Out early with a picnic to wherever the herds have gathered. Your guide looks for births, which usually happen in the morning, and for the predators that follow.
Calving and predatorsNdutu plainsBreakfast, picnic lunch, dinner -
Day 4: Lake Ndutu, Lake Masek and the woodland
A second full day, this time around the two lakes and the acacia woodland, where cheetahs, lions and sometimes leopards rest between hunts, and back onto the open plains in the afternoon.
Cats and lakesNdutu, Lake MasekBreakfast, picnic lunch, dinner -
Day 5: Ndutu to the Ngorongoro Crater
After breakfast, the drive back up to the crater rim and down to the crater floor for a game drive among buffaloes, zebras, lions and, with luck, a black rhino, then to Karatu for the night.
Crater game driveNgorongoro Crater, KaratuBreakfast, picnic lunch, dinner -
Day 6: Lake Manyara, then Arusha
A morning game drive in Lake Manyara, from the groundwater forest to the hippo pool, then the drive back to Arusha, arriving in the afternoon.
Forest and lakeLake Manyara, ArushaBreakfast, lunch
Where You Stay on the 6-Day Calving Safari
Ndutu has only a few permanent lodges, so most guests stay at seasonal tented camps set up near the herds each year. At each level, always "or similar":
| Nights | Area | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 and 5 | Karatu, Ngorongoro highlands | Bougainvillea Lodge, Country Lodge Karatu | Africa Safari Karatu, Eileen's Tree Inn, Karatu Tented Lodge | Gibbs' Farm, Acacia Farm Lodge |
| 2–4 | Ndutu, southern plains | Serengeti Classic View Ndutu | Ang'ata Camp Ndutu, Ndutu Katikati Camp, Ndutu Wildland Camp | Malaika Ndutu Luxury Camp, Masek Tented Lodge |
Ndutu camps fill early for February, so book three to six months ahead if you can.
How Much Does the 6-Day Ndutu Calving Safari Cost?
From US$3,395 per person for two travelers at mid-range camps. The price per person falls as more travelers share the vehicle:
| Travelers | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US$3,665 | US$5,020 | US$6,255 |
| 2 | US$2,545 | US$3,395 | US$5,055 |
| 3 | US$2,260 | US$2,950 | US$4,745 |
| 4 | US$2,070 | US$2,920 | US$4,580 |
| 5 | US$1,995 | US$2,745 | US$4,490 |
| 6 | US$1,910 | US$2,760 | US$4,420 |
Park fees on the 6-Day Ndutu Calving Safari
Included in the price; Ndutu lies inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, so its days are charged at the conservation area rate:
| Fee | 2026 rate (incl. VAT) |
|---|---|
| Tarangire National Park | About US$59 per person per 24 hours |
| Ngorongoro Conservation Area (also charged when you drive through) | US$70.80 per person per 24 hours |
| Ngorongoro crater service fee | US$295 per vehicle per descent |
| Lake Manyara National Park | About US$59 per person per 24 hours |
What the 6-Day Ndutu Calving Safari Includes
Your price includes:
- Pickup from your Arusha hotel on day 1 and drop-off in Arusha on day 6
- Five nights at lodges and tented camps at your chosen level, three of them at Ndutu
- All meals on safari, as listed in the itinerary
- The Ngorongoro crater service fee
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, a window seat for every guest (at most 6), charging points and a fridge for drinks, with your own driver-guide
- All park, conservation and concession fees
- AMREF Flying Doctors evacuation cover
- Drinking water in the vehicle
Not included in the 6-Day Ndutu Calving Safari price
Budget separately for:
- International flights and visas (US$100 for US citizens)
- Tanzania's mandatory inbound travel insurance, US$44 per adult from October 1, 2026 (we can help you buy it)
- Travel insurance, including medical evacuation
- Tips for your guide and lodge staff
- Drinks, except where a lodge includes them, and personal items
- Nights in Arusha before and after the safari, and airport transfers (we can add them)
Your Guide on the Calving Safari
Your driver-guide graduated from the College of African Wildlife Management at Mweka and has at least five years of safari guiding; guides speak English, and we can arrange French, Spanish, German or Chinese-speaking guides. Your guide knows the calving grounds well and reads the herds and the predators to put you in the right place at the right time.
How to Book the 6-Day Ndutu Calving Safari
Send your preferred dates in January, February or March and the number of travelers through the form, on WhatsApp +255 678 992 599 or by email to jaynevytours@gmail.com. We reply from Moshi with a written quotation naming every lodge or campsite for your dates. A 30% deposit confirms the trip and the balance is paid on arrival, by Pesapal (card or mobile money) or bank transfer in US dollars; cancellations follow our booking terms.
Common Questions About the 6-Day Ndutu Calving Safari
Short answers to the questions our guests ask us most often:
When is the best time to see the calving at Ndutu?
February, at the peak of calving. January and early March are good too and a little quieter.
How much is a 6-day calving safari?
From US$3,395 per person for two travelers at mid-range camps, US$2,545 at budget level and US$5,055 at luxury level, including park fees and meals.
Is Ndutu in the Serengeti?
Ndutu sits on the border: most of it is in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, next to the southern Serengeti, and the herds move freely between the two.
Will we see predators hunting?
Very likely. Lions, cheetahs and hyenas follow the calving herds, and hunts are often seen, though never guaranteed.
Can we add Zanzibar after the safari?
Yes. We can book a flight from Arusha to Zanzibar and a beach hotel; ask us for a combined quotation.
Should You Book the 6-Day Ndutu Calving Safari?
Book it if you are traveling between January and March and want three full days with the calving herds and their predators, plus the crater, from US$3,395 per person at mid-range level. Traveling later in the year? The 7-day Mara River crossing safari follows the herds in the north. See all our Tanzania safaris.